Arctic air advances, ushering in coldest air of the season for some
Cold air will expand across the eastern half of the nation into the early week, AccuWeather forecasters warn, ending the growing season in the South.
With winter approaching, prepare with the free AccuWeather app where you can access RealFeel®, which offers more than 10 factors in determining temperatures besides wind chill and humidity.
A sudden taste of winterlike weather is occurring for residents across the eastern half of the nation this week, as a dominant surge of Arctic air lingers from Quebec to the Gulf Coast.
This chilly reality check will serve as a reminder that the start of meteorological winter is rapidly approaching, and with it, the chances for not only a frost or freeze, but also snowflakes.
This frigid pattern will stem from a dramatic southward plunge in the jet stream in the upper levels of the atmosphere, pulling air masses of Arctic origin southward through Canada and into the United States.
"With temperatures dropping well below the historical average across the East, businesses should prepare for impacts to outdoor operations, supply chains and infrastructure. Power demand will increase sharply, and risks to unprotected plumbing and irrigation systems will rise," explained AccuWeather Meteorologist Alex Duffus.
If they haven’t already, communities are encouraged to winterize their homes and businesses. Taking measures such as sealing drafty areas, insulating pipes and draining outdoor faucets are important steps ahead of the winter season.
Additionally, ensuring your home's primary heating source is in working order ahead of needing to utilize it in cold weather can be vital.
Freeze risk to extend through the southeastern US
Tuesday morning, temperatures will continue to creep southward through areas of the Mississippi Valley and Southeast states. Even portions of the Florida Panhandle and coastlines are projected to observe low temperatures in the 30s and 40s.
"Widespread lows in the 20s will spread as far south as the Gulf Coast by Tuesday morning," stated Duffus.
As the cold air sets in early this week, it will mark the coldest night since last winter for some. Jacksonville, Florida, for example, is forecast to approach the freezing mark Tuesday night, roughly 20-25 degrees Fahrenheit below the historical average for early November. For context, the last time the region reported an overnight temperature around freezing was late February 2025.
For many locations, the dramatically lower temperatures will begin to rebound by a few degrees heading into midweek. However, the conditions into late week will still generally remain on the cool side compared to what many locations observed over the week prior.
AccuWeather long-range experts point out that temperatures are expected to continue to bounce back as the month goes on, with waves of cold air on the docket for early December.
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